Combination garden tool



NOV. 1, 1949. c, M 2,486,434

COMBINATION GARDEN TOOL Filed April 15, 1947 J6 Cal-mead QOUYV/Vf Patented Nov. 1, 1949 COMBINATION GARDEN TOOL Clifiord A. Plummer, Dedham, Mass., assignor to Telesco, Inc., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 15,

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to combination garden tools wherein several tools are provided at the end of a handle, and in particular a tool having a handle with a flat band yoke permanently secured thereto, a scoop shaped implement pivotally mounted in the ends of the yoke, and a U-shaped key adapted to rigidly hold the implement in positions wherein it may be used as a spade, spading fork, hoe, or rake.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a garden tool that may readily be converted into any one of several tools.

In working the average garden quite a number of different tools are required, and in order to meet all needs a gardener maintains a relatively large supply of tools. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a spade or scoop pivotally mounted at the end of a handle and means for securing the device in different positions wherein it may be used for different work around the garden.

The-object of this invention is to provide means for mounting a tool blade or, the like at the end of a handle wherein the blade may be rigidly held in digerent positions for accomplishing different resul s.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for mounting a combination garden tool at the end of a handle whereby the device may be turned to form diiferent tools in which the tool element is permanently attached to the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination garden tool which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects in view the invention embodies a channel shaped tool element with a flat blade having perpendicularly extending sides with square sockets on the inner surfaces of the sides, a yoke in which the tool element is pivotally mounted, a handle on which the yoke is mounted, and a key for locking the tool element in different positions in the yoke.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the combination tool with the parts assembled and positioned to form a spade. and with the handle broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the tool with the adjustable tool element turned through an angle of 90 to form a rake on one side and hoe on the other.

Figure 3 is a detail showing the U-shaped looking key.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like ref- 1947, Serial No. 741,557

erence characters indicate corresponding parts the combination garden tool of this invention includes a tool element Ill, a yoke II, a key [2,

and a handle l3.

5 The tool element I is formed of a flat plate with sides I4 and I5 and inner surfaces of the sides are provided-with substantially square sockets l6 and H having openings l8 and I9 extend horizontally through the sides thereof, and also, other openings 20 and 2| extending vertically down through the top thereof, the ends 22 and 23 of the key 12 extending through the respective openings, as shown in Figure 1. I

The sides l4 and I5 of the tool element ID are pivotally mounted in the ends of arms 24 and 25 of the yoke II by rivets 2B, and the yoke is provided with a ferrule 21 by which it is mounted on the end of the handle 13. The ends 22 and 23 of the key I2 extend through openings 28 and 29 in the yoke II and the key is provided with an arcuate section 30 that extends around the ferrule as shown in Figure 1.

The sockets I6 and I! are positioned closer to one end of the tool element In wherein the short section may be used as a hoe, and both edges 3| and 32 may be sharpened as shown in Figure 1, or one edge 33 may be dull, and the other provided with teeth or prongs 34 as shown in Figure 2, in which the tool element is indicated by the numeral 35. The tool element 35, in the design shown in Figure 2 illustrates a modification and this element is also provided with sockets 36 similar to the sockets l6 and IT by which it may be held in the yoke by the key l2 as shown.

It will be understood that the tool element It] may be, made of different designs to represent different tools, and with the element partitioned as shown in Figure 1, the tool forms a spade, or when provided with prongs it forms a spading fork, and when turned as shown in Figure 2 one side forms a hoe and the other a rake. Other modifications may be made in the design or arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination garden tool, comprising a handle, a U-shaped yoke secured to one end of the handle and including a bight having openings, a blade disposed between the free ends of the yoke and including upstanding sides pivotally connected to the free ends of the yoke, oppositely disposed inwardly projecting socket elements secured to the upstanding sides each of said socket members having an opening extending horizon- 55 tally through the side thereof, there being a second opening extending vertically down through the top of each of said socket members, the blade being provided with openings in axial alignment with said latter openings, and a U-shaped locking member carried by the yoke and having a bight to engage the end of the yoke and sides engaging in the openings in the end of the yoke, the looking member being shiftable longitudinally of the handle and yoke so that its sides may engage selectively in the openings of the socket elements.

2. A combination garden tool comprising a handle, a U-shaped yoke fixed on one end of the handle, a blade pivoted between the free ends of the yoke, a pair of socket members on said blade at the pivot connection thereof, each of said socket members having an opening extending horizontally through the side thereof, there being a second opening extending vertically down to the top of each of said socket members, a U-shaped- 4 locking key including side arms slidable along the length of said yoke, and engageable in said openings for locking said blade in a selected angle relative to said yoke.

CLIFFORD A. PLUMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

